Substrate protecting member

ABSTRACT

A substrate protecting member for clamping a substrate includes an elastic case and a conductive case. The elastic case defines a first latching slot for clamping an edge of the substrate. The conductive case defines a second latching slot with inner walls thereof contacting an outer surface of the elastic case. In the substrate protecting member of the present disclosure, the elastic case is capable of clamping on the edge of the substrate for buffering impacts on the substrate, and the conductive case is capable of surrounding the elastic case for protecting the substrate from being damaged by static electricity. Therefore, with the elastic case and the conductive case, the substrate protecting member can protect the substrate from being damaged by impacts or static electricity.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to substrate protecting members, and particularly, to substrate protecting members for the manufacture of liquid crystal displays.

2. Description of Related Art

In manufacture process of a liquid crystal panel, substrates of the liquid crystal panel often need to be transferred in and out of many manufacturing equipments for many times. Robots are often disposed between the manufacturing equipments for transferring the substrates. During the process of transferring the substrate, the substrate may be affected by static electricity from the robots or the manufacturing equipments. Additionally, in the process of transferring the substrate, outer forces may impact the substrate unavoidably. It is known that the substrate is fragile and is easily damaged or even crumbled by impacts from outer forces or by static electricity, which may increase the manufacturing cost of the liquid crystal panel. Moreover, it may be difficult to get rid of fragments of the crumbled substrate out of the manufacturing equipments completely, which may influence the yield rate of other substrates greatly. Therefore, it is urgent to reduce or even eliminate the influence on the substrates from static electricity and impacts from outer forces.

Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

SUMMARY

One object of the present disclosure is to provide a substrate protecting member for clamping a substrate. The substrate protecting member includes an elastic case and a conductive case. The elastic case defines a first latching slot for clamping an edge of the substrate. The conductive case defines a second latching slot with inner walls thereof contacting an outer surface of the elastic case.

Preferably, a height of the first latching slot is larger than a thickness of substrate by 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters.

Preferably, a thickness of a first portion of the elastic case corresponding to an upper side of the substrate is different from that of a second portion of the elastic case corresponding to a lower side of the substrate.

Preferably, the outer surface of the elastic case is recessed to define a latching portion, the conductive case includes a protrusion corresponding to the latching portion, and the elastic case is secured in the second latching slot by the engagement between the latching portion and the protrusion.

Preferably, the conductive case is a thin metal layer screwed or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case.

The present disclosure further provides another substrate protecting member for clamping a substrate. The substrate protecting member includes an elastic case for clamping an edge of the substrate and a conductive case surrounding an outer surface of the elastic case.

Preferably, the elastic case defines a first latching slot for clamping the edge of the substrate.

Preferably, a height of the first latching slot is larger than a thickness of the substrate by 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters.

Preferably, the height of the first latching slot is larger than the thickness of the substrate by 0.2 millimeters.

Preferably, thickness of a first portion of the elastic case corresponding to an upper surface of the substrate is different from that of a second portion of the elastic case corresponding to a lower surface of the substrate.

Preferably, the thickness of the first portion of the elastic case corresponding to the upper portion of the substrate is larger than that of the second portion of the elastic case corresponding to the lower side of the substrate.

Preferably, the elastic case is made of high temperature resistant buffering material, and the high temperature resistant buffering material buffering material is rubber or sponge.

Preferably, the conductive case defines a second latching slot with inner walls thereof attached to the outer surface of the elastic case.

Preferably, the outer surface of the elastic case is recessed to define a latching portion, the conductive case includes a protrusion cooperatively engaging with the latching portion, and the latching portion engages with the protrusion to secure the elastic case in the second latching slot.

Preferably, the conductive case is a thin metal layer screwed or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case.

The present disclosure further provides yet another substrate protecting member. The substrate protecting member includes an elastic case defining a first latching slot and a conductive case surrounding the elastic case.

Preferably, thicknesses of two portions of the elastic cases respectively corresponding to the two sides of the first latching slot are different from each other.

Preferably, the conductive case defines a second latching slot for clamping the elastic case, and inner walls of the second latching slot are attached to the outer surface of the elastic case.

Preferably, the outer surface of the elastic case is recessed to define a second latching slot, a protrusion is disposed on the conductive case for engaging with the latching portion, and the latching portion engages with the protrusion to secure the elastic case in the second latching slot.

Preferably, the conductive case is a thin metal layer, and the conductive case is screwed or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case. In the substrate protecting member of the present disclosure, the elastic case is capable of clamping on the edge of the substrate for buffering impacts on the substrate, and the conductive case is capable of surrounding the elastic case for preventing the substrate from being damaged by static electricity. Therefore, with the substrate protecting member, the substrate can be prevented from being damaged by impacts or static electricity in the manufacturing process and operating process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily dawns to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a substrate protecting member assembled on a substrate in a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view showing the substrate being clamped in the substrate protecting member of FIG. 1, and the substrate protecting member includes an elastic case and a conductive case.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the elastic case of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the conductive case of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a partially cross-sectional view showing the substrate being clamped in a substrate protecting member in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment is this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a substrate protecting member mounted on a substrate in a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional view showing the substrate being clamped in the substrate protecting member of FIG. 1. In an embodiment, a substrate protecting member 1 includes an elastic case 11 for clamping an edge of the substrate and a conductive case 12 surrounding the elastic case 11. Each substrate protecting member 1 is substantially strip. A number of the substrate protecting members 1 are connected in an end-to-end way to clamp the substrate 2. Specifically, each edge of the substrate 2 is clamped in the corresponding elastic case 11 and each elastic case 11 is surrounded by the corresponding conductive case 12. Every two adjacent elastic cases 11 are connected end to end for buffering impacts on the edges of the substrate 2. Every two adjacent conductive cases 12 are also connected to end to end for preventing the edges of the substrate 2 from being damaged by static electricity. It is noted that the number of the substrate protecting number 1 is not limited to this embodiment. In some embodiments, two or three of the substrate protecting member 1 may be connected to each other for clamping two or three edges of the substrate 2 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of the elastic case of FIG. 2. The elastic case 11 includes a first latching slot 111 and a latching portion 112. The first latching slot 111 is shaped for cooperating with the edge of the substrate 2 so that the edge of the substrate 2 can be stably clamped in the first latching slot 111. For example, in some embodiments, when the substrate 2 is cuboid, the first latching slot 111 can be a rectangular slot. An outer surface of the elastic case 11 is recessed to define the latching portion 112 for cooperating with the conductive case 12.

Referring also to FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view of the conductive case of FIG. 2. The conductive case 12 is made of conductive material, and includes a second latching slot 121. Inner walls of the second latching slot 121 contact the outer surface of the elastic case 11. The conductive case 12 further includes a protrusion 122 disposed on a lower portion thereof for engaging with the latching portion 112 for assembling the elastic case 11 and the conductive case 12 together. The protrusion 122 and the latching portion 112 are cooperatively shaped, for example, when the protrusion 122 is cuboid, the latching portion 112 may be correspondingly a rectangular slot for receiving the protrusion 122. The conductive case 12 surrounds the outer surface of the elastic case 11, and the protrusion 122 is clamped in the latching portion 112, thereby securing the elastic case 11 in the second latching slot 121.

Since impacts on an upper surface and a lower surface of the substrate 2 are different from each other, a thickness of a first portion of the elastic case 11 corresponding to the upper surface of the substrate 2 is different from that of a second portion of the elastic case 11 corresponding to the lower side of the substrate 2. For example, in some embodiments, the impact on the upper surface of the substrate 2 may be larger than that on the lower surface thereof, therefore, the first portion of the elastic case 11 corresponding to the upper surface of the substrate 2 is designed to be thicker than that of the second portion of the elastic case 11 corresponding to the lower surface of the substrate 2, or vice versa.

Preferably, in order to make the substrate 2 to be clamped in the first latching slot 111 easily and securely, a height of the latching slot 111 is defined to be larger than the thickness of the substrate 2 by 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters. For example, the height of the first latching slot 111 may be larger than the thickness of the substrate 2 by 0.1 millimeters or 0.3 millimeters. Preferably, the height of the first latching slot 111 is larger than the thickness of the substrate 2 by 0.2 millimeters.

It is known that during the manufacturing process of the liquid crystal panel, the substrate 2 may be needed to be placed in a high temperature environment. Therefore, in order to protect the substrate 2 in the high temperature environment, the elastic case 11 can be made of high temperature resistant buffering material such as rubber, sponge and other material having buffering function. On one hand, when the elastic case 11 is high temperature resistant, the elastic case 11 is capable of protecting the substrate 2 while keeping being mounted on to the substrate 2 in the high temperature environment. On the other hand, when the elastic case 11 is not high temperature resistant, the elastic case 11 needs to be removed from the substrate 2 for avoiding damage thereto when the substrate 2 is transferred to the high temperature environment.

The elastic case 11 and the conductive case 12 can have any suitable configurations in the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 again, the first latching slot 111 is defined in the inner wall of the elastic case 11 and outer surface of elastic case 11 is arc-shaped. In some embodiments, the conductive case 12 may be an arch conductive plate surrounding the elastic case 11.

Referring to FIG. 5, an elastic case 11′, according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown. The elastic case 11′ of the second embodiment is similar to the elastic case 11 of the first embodiment, and the difference between the elastic case 11′ and the elastic case 11 lies in that, an outer surface of the elastic case 11′ in the second embodiment is substantially rectangular-shaped, and the conductive case 12′ is a rectangular case surrounding the elastic case 11′.

In other embodiments, the elastic case 11 can have any suitable configurations for clamping the substrate 2, and the conductive case 12 may be a metal layer surrounding the elastic case 11. The metal layer can be screwed to or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case 11 with the omission of the latching portion 112 and the protrusion 122 in some embodiments.

With the first latching slot 111 clamping the corresponding edge of the substrate 2 therein, the elastic case 11 is capable of buffering the impacts on the substrate 2. Moreover, the conductive case 12 is capable of surrounding the elastic case 11 for protecting the substrate 2 from being damaged by static electricity. Therefore, with the elastic case 11 and the conductive case 12, the substrate 2 can be prevented from being damaged by impacts or static electricity in the succeeding manufacturing process and succeeding operating process.

Even though information and the advantages of the present embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the mechanisms and functions of the present embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the present embodiments to the full extend indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A substrate protecting device, comprising: a substrate; and a substrate protecting member for clamping the substrate, comprising: an elastic case defining a first latching slot for clamping an edge of the substrate, and a height of the first latching slot being larger than a thickness of the substrate by 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters; and a conductive case defining a second latching slot with inner walls thereof contacting an outer surface of the elastic case.
 22. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein a thickness of a first portion of the elastic case corresponding to an upper side of the substrate is different from that of a second portion of the elastic case corresponding to a lower side of the substrate.
 23. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the outer surface of the elastic case is recessed to define a latching portion, the conductive case comprises a protrusion corresponding to the latching portion, and the elastic case is secured in the second latching slot by the engagement between the latching portion and the protrusion.
 24. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the conductive case is a thin metal layer screwed or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case.
 25. A substrate protecting device, comprising: a substrate; and a substrate protecting member for clamping the substrate, comprising: an elastic case for clamping an edge of the substrate, the elastic case defining a first slot for clamping the edge of the substrate, and a height of the first latching slot being larger than a thickness of the substrate by 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters; and a conductive case surrounding an outer surface of the elastic case.
 26. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the height of the first latching slot is larger than the thickness of the substrate by 0.2 millimeters.
 27. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 25, wherein thickness of a first portion of the elastic case corresponding to an upper side of the substrate is different from that of a second portion of the elastic case corresponding to a lower side of the substrate.
 28. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the thickness of the first portion of the elastic case corresponding to the upper side of the substrate is larger than that of the second portion of the elastic case corresponding to the lower side of the substrate.
 29. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the elastic case is made of high temperature resistant buffering material, and the high temperature resistant buffering material buffering material is rubber or sponge.
 30. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the conductive case defines a second latching slot with inner walls thereof attached to the outer surface of the elastic case.
 31. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the outer surface of the elastic case is recessed to define a latching portion, the conductive case comprises a protrusion cooperatively engaging with the latching portion, and the latching portion engages with the protrusion to secure the elastic case in the second latching slot.
 32. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 30, wherein the conductive case is a thin metal layer screwed or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case.
 33. A substrate protecting device, comprising: a substrate; and a substrate protecting member for clamping the substrate, comprising: an elastic case defining a first latching slot for clamping the edge of the substrate, and a height of the first latching slot being larger than a thickness of the substrate by 0.1 millimeters to 0.3 millimeters; and a conductive case surrounding the elastic case.
 34. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 33, wherein thickness of two portions of the elastic cases respectively corresponding to the two sides of the first latching slot are different from each other.
 35. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the conductive case defines a second latching slot for clamping the elastic case, and inner walls of the second latching slot are attached to the outer surface of the elastic case.
 36. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 35, wherein the outer surface of the elastic case is recessed to define a second latching slot, a protrusion is disposed on the conductive case for engaging with the latching portion, and the latching portion engages with the protrusion to secure the elastic case in the second latching slot.
 37. The substrate protecting device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the conductive case is a thin metal layer, and the conductive case is screwed or glued to the outer surface of the elastic case. 